Support us

History

Spare Tyre was founded back in 1977, by a group of women who wrote and performed a play about their personal experiences of body image. This technique of focusing on the personal to illustrate a wider political point became the Spare Tyre trademark. Since then, the charity has created dozens of theatre productions all developed entirely from the personal stories of different voiceless communities.

Below are just some of the key projects that have taken place over the years.

This timeline was put together by Louise Rigglesford from Central School of Speech and Drama during a placement with Spare Tyre.

1979-1989

Comical Feminist Cabaret

Clair Chapwell placed and ad in “Time Out” inviting women to create a piece of theatre based on the book Fat is a Feminist Issue by Susie Orbach

Baring the Weight was the first show looking at the Company’s view on food and the issues discussed in Fat is a Feminist Issue

The founding members of Spare Tyre: Clair Chapwell, Harriet Powell and Katina Noble continued to make comical, musical theatre about personal issues affecting themselves and other women: How Do I Look - self image, Just Desserts - compulsive coupledom, Invisible Woman- women's health, Laugh Lines - approaching 40, Head Over Heels - love, and Gone Shopping - values and money.

1984 and 1987

Young Unemployed People

Spare Tyre began making community theatre with a training project for young unemployed women run in partnership with The Cockpit Theatre

Fists and Fingernails was devised as a cabaret about sexism with young unemployed male and female participants

1991–1994

Theatre In Education

Spare Tyre began creating and touring TIE performances. Projects included Oxfamtastic! - commissioned by Oxfam to celebrate their 50th anniversary as well as Poor Worldand Dancing in the Dark

1993–1996

Adults aged 60+

Spare Tyre began working with adults aged 60+. Projects included In My Day – which the BBC created a documentary about and A Present to Myself – created at Hackney Residential Care Home

Gas Mask on my Shoulder and In Between Days were both written with the Hainault Writers Group

Young Unemployed People

Time Piece, OY! and The Family Way were all created in collaboration with young unemployed people

1997–2000

Adults with learning disabilities

Going Places, On the Edge, Inside Outside and Restless Heart were devised by adults with learning disabilities for the RedForest project

LGBT Community

Life On The Outside, Crossing the Tracks and Families: A Pink Guide were devised with the LGBT community for the Pink Project

Adults Aged 60+

I’ll Tell You A Life…, Getting By… and The Old Joanna were all created with older people living along the Thames as part of the River Project

Young Homeless People

The Dream Factory with the London Connection was devised by a group of young people and looked at the differences between dreams we have as children and dreams we have now

2000–2002

Adults aged 60+

Older People devised Same Meat, Different Gravy, It’ll All Come Out in the Wash, and Thank God for the Radio for the Coming to Camden project

Older People devised and toured pieces of Forum Theatre to older people's care centres and schools as part of a Workshop Leaders Course

Theatre in Education

Other People's Shoes explored the stories of young people on the margins, using characters including a lesbian, a refugee, and physically disabled person. It toured to schools in 2002 and 2003

LGBT Community

Constant Companions was a musical play to celebrate the prior century of lesbian and gay history

Young Homeless People

Associates...Friends with London Connection and Raw Material got young homeless people involved in creatively and explored friendship, betrayal, secrets, trust and loyalty on the streets of the city.

2002–2005

Adults aged 60+

Home Sweet Home, Risky Business and Bedlam! were devised as training for emergency service workers as part of the SCAT project

What’s in it for me?, Move with the Mood and Hot Locations were performed by older people in care homes as part of the SCAT project

Adults With Learning Disabilities

Spare Tyre set up the inc.Theatre course for adults with learning disabilities

Shining in the Shadows, Tempest and The Art Roomwere devised by adults with learning disabilities during the inc.Theatre course

LGBT Community

Spare Tyre revived its LGBT work with three touring T.I.E pieces tackling homophobia in schools including Burning, as well as Dealing with Difference workshops for school staff tackling issues associated with homosexuality

2006–2009

Adults Aged 60+

Look at me, What do you See?, Alice and Angina Monologues were devised and toured by the HotPotsgroup of older artists

Feeble Minds was the first collaboration between inc.Theatre and HotPots inspired by Shakespeare's Timon of Athens

Adults With Learning Disabilities

Arabian Nights and Days, Pieces of Ourselves, and Dark Inc were all devised and toured by the inc.Theatregroup

The Go inc to work scheme was set up for adults with learning disabilities to enable them gain skills and experience working professionally in the performing arts

Feeble Minds was the first collaboration betweeninc.Theatre and the HotPots inspired by Shakespeare’sTimon of Athens

LGBT community

Pretend Familes - a play for 9-11 year olds looked at how children can understand different types families and toured to schools.

Burning continued to tour to young people in schools tackling homophobic bullying, and a DVD teaching aid was created.

2010 Onwards

Adults With Learning Disabilities

I’m an Artist, let me in! was created as part of the Go inc to work scheme as a showcase performed to performing arts employers. It was performed at the Spare Tyre Festival at the New Diorama Theatre and toured to schools and arts venues across London.

The Spare Tyre Band, featuring adults with learning disabilities, began in 2012 and has performed across London including at the Lord Mayor's Show

Adults aged 60+

SAFE is a satirical play tackling the issue of safeguarding and has been performed at training events in safeguarding for council workers. It has also been performed to mainstream audiences at the Wandsworth Arts Festival, during London-wide tour, and as part of the Spare Tyre Festival. It returns to the New Diorama Theatre in March 2017.

Trojan Women is a comic street performance inspired by Euripides' play that is ideal for festival settings. It was performed at Wandsworth Arts Festival, Capital Age and New Diorama Theatre.

Still Life Dreaming was a collaboration between Spare Tyre and the Wellcome Trust to celebrate Wellcome's 75th anniversary at the Edinburgh Fringe 2011.

Scratches festivals showcased new work with diverse artists–most recently performances written by artists over age 70.

Older People With Dementia

Once Upon a Time, a new way of working creatively with older people with dementia, toured nationall 2011-15, including to care homes in London, Plymouth, Wales (Gwanwyn Festival) and Scotland (Luminate Festival).

The Garden, an innovative multisensory performance for people with dementia and their carers, began touring in 2015. Since then it has reached over 1,000 people with dementia and 500 carers nationally.